any value in clarifying PROVIDES "=" versus "+="?

any value in clarifying PROVIDES "=" versus "+="?

[Robert P. J. Day]

  i remember some time ago there was a short discussion about:

https://docs.yoctoproject.org/bitbake/bitbake-user-manual/bitbake-user-manual-execution.html#providers

where that section *appears* to suggest that one should use "+=" when
extending a recipe's PROVIDES which, as we all know, is technically
not true since "=" is sufficient, *but* IIRC, richard purdie weighed
in and suggested that, sure, one needs only "=" *but* "+=" is more
visually intuitive, so should that section be reworded in any way, or
left as is? (i think it needs some rewording since that explanation
will not match what people perusing the code will find, and they will
get confused.)

  in addition, this points to an example of what i brought up once
upon a time; that is, "reference material" that is at least as
detailed as the manual content -- see the variable reference for
"PROVIDES" which is at least as detailed as the section from the
manual:

https://docs.yoctoproject.org/bitbake/bitbake-user-manual/bitbake-user-manual-ref-variables.html#term-PROVIDES

  in general, i'm of the opinion that "reference" material should be
short and to the point, and link to whatever longer explanation is
necessary in the manual proper.

rday

Re: [docs] any value in clarifying PROVIDES "=" versus "+="?

[Quentin Schulz]

Hi Robert,

On 3/12/26 2:29 PM, Robert P. J. Day via lists.yoctoproject.org wrote:
> 
>    i remember some time ago there was a short discussion about:
> 
> https://docs.yoctoproject.org/bitbake/bitbake-user-manual/bitbake-user-manual-execution.html#providers
> 
> where that section *appears* to suggest that one should use "+=" when
> extending a recipe's PROVIDES which, as we all know, is technically
> not true since "=" is sufficient, *but* IIRC, richard purdie weighed
> in and suggested that, sure, one needs only "=" *but* "+=" is more
> visually intuitive, so should that section be reworded in any way, or
> left as is? (i think it needs some rewording since that explanation
> will not match what people perusing the code will find, and they will
> get confused.)
> 

Maybe a note if you want to highlight that PROVIDES = "fullkeyboard" 
will do the same thing but we recommend people using += to hint that an 
implicit value is also available.

Patches welcome as usual. Sometimes sending a patch takes less time than 
asking whether it's welcome, wait for someone to answer and then send 
it. Also, patches have a much higher chance of being looked at compared 
to non-patch mails like this one.

Cheers,
Quentin